Livonia woman proudly wears state pageant crown

Sierra Bognear, 24, of Livonia, says her Miss Michigan United States title provides a platform to talk about such topics as at-risk youth and encouraging young women to pursue higher education.(Photo: Submitted)

Forget everything you think you know about beauty pageants, from stereotypical stage moms to girls with too much make-up.

Sierra Bognear, 24, a Livonia resident and the new Miss Michigan United States, will set you straight.

"People say to me, 'Oh, you do pageants' and then I get that certain look from them. People really don't know what it's like to compete in a pageant. The girls are not what people think they are. For the most part the girls I've met have had beautiful spirits...beautiful inside and out. Two young girls I met in the Miss United States pageant hardly had any makeup on. I wish people could see that side of it.

"I would encourage any girl to get into pageants, to go for it."

That's just how Bognear, the middle child of 13 siblings, took to the pageant stage three years ago. She had always thought about entering a competition, but as a teenager was shy and couldn't imagine modeling a bathing suit for judges. But when a friend, who planned to compete, encouraged Bognear to give it a try, she took a second look at the pageant experience.

"I was getting older and gaining more confidence," said Bognear, a Farmington Harrison High School graduate who studied theater in both California and Georgia before transferring to Madonna University where she is finishing a degree in criminal justice. She hopes to graduate next year. "She (her friend) said it was a good opportunity to get out the issues I'm passionate about, to use it as a platform to raise awareness."

Nonprofit organization

Those issues include at-risk girls, helping to empower and build self-esteem in young women and encouraging them to pursue higher education. Bognear created a nonprofit organization, Girls With A Purpose, last year to address those topics and "maybe make changes in the community and the world."

"I've always been passionate about working with young girls. Lately I've been learning more about human trafficking," Bognear said. "It's important to raise awareness."

She reached out to a group of 12-14-year-olds in a latchkey program and hopes to partner with Alternatives for Girls, a Detroit organization that helps homeless and high-risk girls and young women avoid violence, teen pregnancy and exploitation.

Earlier this week Bognear read to youngsters at an early learning center, although her first official appearance as Miss Michigan United States will be April 8 at a Detroit Pistons game.

Bognear competed in the Miss Michigan USA pageant system, which includes the Miss Universe competition, for two years before switching to the Miss Michigan United States pageant program, which has teamed with the Miss World competition.

During a preliminary run for the Miss Michigan USA, she was a first runner-up and won the Miss Pure Michigan title. She went on to compete in the pageant, but didn't place in the finals.

Family, faith

Bognear said her family has supported her interest in pageants, both financially and emotionally. Faith plays a big role in her attitude toward competition.

"My parents raised us up always going to church on Sunday and Bible study on Tuesday," said Bognear, who has been involved in praise dance ministry. "It guides me and it's something I always carry with me."

Bognear prays before competition, tries to do her best and knows "it's in God's hands now." Modeling in front of pageant judges isn't about showing off in a bathing suit, but "it's about your presence and confidence and what you bring to the table," Bognear said. "I'm so much more comfortable. I'm happy with what God has molded and shaped. I don't have to try and be what people think a pageant girl should be."

For more about the Miss Michigan United States pageants, visit missmichiganUS.com.